Fighting Nerds coach reveals the chin tweak that turned Jean Silva's choke into a finisher

Fighting Nerds coach Flavio Alvaro has revealed that a subtle chin adjustment was the difference between Jean Silva’s failed submission attempt against Bryce Mitchell and the clean finish he produced against Jose Delgado on Saturday — a technique the camp has since dubbed the ‘Legendary Choke’.

Silva posted a training video to Instagram on Sunday demonstrating the sequence, which Alvaro confirmed he personally taught the Brazilian featherweight. The coach explained that Silva had tried to apply the same choke against Mitchell but lacked the key detail that makes it work.

“The video Jean posted shows how we train, including the sequence he used on Saturday. He had actually already tried to apply it against Bryce Mitchell, but the chin adjustment was missing, and that is the big secret of the Legendary Choke,” Alvaro told Sherdog on Tuesday. “The chin acts as a second hand that allows the adjustment. Jean fixed the position in training, and now it clicked.”

A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with 60 MMA fights on his résumé — many from the no-holds-barred era — Alvaro is the primary architect of Fighting Nerds’ ground and cage work. He also handles what the team calls the ‘dark side’ of their corner: the mental preparation between rounds.

“Pablo [Sucupira] and I complement each other even in that. Between rounds, while he brings the fight analysis and enforces our tactical game plan, I keep our warrior mentally armored,” Alvaro said.

With Silva now 7-1 in the UFC and six of those wins coming by knockout or submission, Alvaro believes his fighter has done enough to earn a featherweight title shot. He acknowledged, however, that former Bellator contender Aaron Pico — despite being just 1-1 in the promotion — could complicate the picture.

“Given everything he’s done — seven wins, six by finish — and the entertainment he has been providing, Jean should fight the winner of Evloev vs. Volkanovski,” Alvaro said. “But we have to understand that Aaron Pico is beloved in the U.S., even though he is only 1-1 in the promotion. We have to understand that the UFC is an American show, and it has been a long time since they have had a chance at a champion.”

Alavaro added that he does not expect Pico to get past Arnold Allen, and made no secret of which champion he would prefer Silva to face should the title become available.

“We definitely want Volkanovski, who is a legend of the sport,” he said. “And it would add much more to Jean than a win over Evloev.”